The real God
These people have committed a terrible sin. They have made a god out of gold and worshiped it. Please forgive their sin... ~ Exodus 32:31b,32 (part/GNT)
...the gods we humans make are not really gods at all. ~ Acts 19:26b (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The real God is a forgiving God.
PRAYER:
Merciful God, thank you for understanding and forgiving us when we replace you with substitutes in our lives. We should be focusing on you. Instead, we focus on things which bring short-term pleasure or thrills -- things which make us feel like we're in control when we should be sitting and patiently waiting for you to act. Help me to fully trust you -- even if I have to wait. Your mercy makes it all worth the wait. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
